imputed to a desire to revenge the death of his kinsman at Loudon
Hill, and his anger at being thwarted is, with great simplicity,
asserted to have led to the execution of Monmouth.
Scott's copy of this ballad was given from recitation. In the First
Series of Laing's _Fugitive Scottish Poetry_, there is an amusingly
prosaic Covenanting ditty upon this subject, called _Bothwell Lines_,
and in the Second Series, a Cavalier song, entitled The _Battell of
Bodwell Bridge, or The Kings Cavileers Triumph_.
"O, billie, billie, bonny billie,
Will ye go to the wood wi' me?
We'll ca' our horse hame masterless,
An' gar them trow slain men are we."
"O no, O no!" says Earlstoun, 5
"For that's the thing that mauna be;
For I am sworn to Bothwell Hill,
Where I maun either gae or die."
So Earlstoun rose in the morning,
An' mounted by the break o' day; 10
An' he has joined our Scottish lads,
As they were marching out the way.
"Now, farewell, father, and farewell, mother,
And fare ye weel, my sisters three;
An' fare ye weel, my Earlstoun, 15
For thee again I'll never see!"
So they're awa' to Bothwell Hill,
An' waly they rode bonnily!
When the Duke o' Monmouth saw them comin',
He went to view their company. 20
"Ye're welcome, lads," the Monmouth said,
"Ye're welcome, brave Scots lads, to me;
And sae are you, brave Earlstoun,
The foremost o' your company!
"But yield your weapons ane an a', 25
O yield your weapons, lads, to me;
For gin ye'll yield your weapons up,
Ye'se a' gae hame to your country."
Out then spak a Lennox lad,
And waly but he spoke bonnily! 30
"I winna yield my weapons up,
To you nor nae man that I see."
Then he set up the flag o' red,
A' set about wi' bonny blue;
"Since ye'll no cease, and be at peace, 35
See that ye stand by ither true."
They stell'd their cannons on the height,
And showr'd their shot down in the howe;
An' beat our Scots lads even down,
Thick they lay slain on every knowe. 40
As e'er you saw the rain down fa',
Or yet the arrow frae the bow,--
Sae our Scottish lads fell even down,
An' they lay slain on every knowe.
"O hold your hand," then Monmouth cry'd, 45
"Gie quarters to yon men for me!"
But wicked Claver'se swore an oath,
His Cornet's death revenged sud be.
"O hold your hand," then Monmouth cry'd,
"If onything you'll do for me; 50
Hold up your hand, you cursed Græme,
Else a rebel to our king ye'll be."
Then wicked Claver'se turn'd about,
I wot an angry man was he;
And he has lifted up his hat, 55
And cry'd, "God bless his Majesty!"
Than he's awa' to London town,
Aye e'en as fast as he can dree;
Fause witnesses he has wi' him ta'en,
And ta'en Monmouth's head frae his body. 60
Alang the brae, beyond the brig,
Mony brave man lies cauld and still;
But lang we'll mind, and sair we'll rue,
The bloody battle of Bothwell Hill.
THE BATTLE OF KILLIECRANKIE.
This battle was fought on the evening of the 27th of July, 1689, a
little to the north of the pass of Killiecrankie, in the Highlands of
Perthshire, between King William's army under General Mackay, and a
body of Highlanders under the renowned Claverhouse, the bravest and
most faithful adherent of the house of Stuart. Mackay's troops, which
were partly Dutch and partly English, amounted to 4,500 foot and two
companies of horse. The Highlanders were not much more than half as
numerous. They consisted of the followers of Maclean, Macdonald of
Sky, Clanronald, Sir Evan Cameron of Lochiel, and others, with a few
Irish. The left wing of Mackay's army was almost instantly routed by a
furious charge of the Macleans. The right wing stood their ground
manfully, and even repulsed the assault of the Macdonalds, but being
taken in flank by the Camerons and a part of the Macleans, they were
forced to retire and suffered great loss. While directing the oblique
movement of the Camerons, Claverhouse received a mortal wound under
the arm, and with him fell the cause of King James.
This ballad, which is taken from Herd's _Scottish Songs_, i. 163, was
printed as a broadside near the time of the battle. The author is
unknown. There was an old song called _Killiecrankie_, which, with
some alterations, was inserted in Johnson's _Museum_ (p. 302). It is
also found in Hogg's _Jacobite Relics_, i. 32, with an additional
stanza. A contemporary Latin ballad on the same event by Herbert
Kennedy, a professor in the University of Edinburgh, is given in the
_Museum_, and may be seen in our Appendix.
Clavers and his Highlandmen
Came down upo' the raw, man,
Who being stout, gave mony a clout;
The lads began to claw then.
With sword and terge into their hand, 5
Wi which they were nae slaw, man,
Wi mony a fearful heavy sigh,
The lads began to claw then.
O'er bush, o'er bank, o'er ditch, o'er stank,
She flang amang them a', man; 10
The butter-box got mony knocks,
Their riggings paid for a' then.
They got their paiks, wi sudden straiks,
Which to their grief they saw, man:
Wi clinkum clankum o'er their crowns, 15
The lads began to fa' then.
Hur skipt about, hur leapt about,[L17]
And flang amang them a', man;
The English blades got broken heads,
Their crowns were cleav'd in twa then. 20
The durk and door made their last hour,
And prov'd their final fa', man;
They thought the devil had been there,
That play'd them sic a paw then.
The Solemn League and Covenant 25
Came whigging up the hills, man;
Thought Highland trews durst not refuse
For to subscribe their bills then.
In Willie's name, they thought nae ane
Durst stop their course at a', man, 30
But hur-nane-sell, wi mony a knock,
Cry'd, "Furich-Whigs awa'," man.
Sir Evan Du, and his men true,
Came linking up the brink, man;
The Hogan Dutch they feared such, 35
They bred a horrid stink then.
The true Maclean and his fierce men
Came in amang them a' man;
Nane durst withstand his heavy hand,
All fled and ran awa' then. 40
_Oh' on a ri, Oh' on a ri,_
Why should she lose King Shames, man?
_Oh' rig in di, Oh' rig in di,_
She shall break a' her banes then;
With _furichinish_, an' stay a while, 45
And speak a word or twa, man,
She's gi' a straike, out o'er the neck,
Before ye win awa' then.
O fy for shame, ye're three for ane,
Hur-nane-sell's won the day, man; 50
King Shames' red-coats should be hung up,
Because they ran awa' then.
Had bent their brows, like Highland trows,
And made as lang a stay, man,
They'd sav'd their king, that sacred thing, 55
And Willie'd ran awa' then.
17. The Highlanders have only one pronoun, and as it happens to resemble
the English _her_, it has caused the Lowlanders to have a general
impression that they mistake the feminine for the masculine gender. It
has even become a sort of nickname for them, as in the present case, and
in a subsequent verse, (31,) where it is extended to _her-nain-sell_.
CHAMBERS, _Scottish Songs_, p. 48.
THE BATTLE OF SHERIFF-MUIR.
Fought on the 13th of November, 1715, between the Duke of Argyle,
general of the forces of King George the First, and the Earl of Mar,
for the Chevalier de St. George. The right wing of both armies, led by
the respective commanders, was successful, and the left wing of both
was routed. Hence the victory was claimed by both sides. The
Chevalier's army was much the larger of the two, and all the
advantages of the contest remained with the other party.
This ballad is printed in Herd's _Scottish Songs_, i. 170, and in many
subsequent collections. It is ascribed by Burns to the "Rev. Murdoch
M'Lellan, minister of Crathie, Dee-side." Our copy is taken from
Hogg's _Jacobite Relics_, ii. 1, where the stanzas in brackets appear
for the first time. The notes are from Chambers's _Scottish Songs_, p.
408.
There are several other ballads upon this battle: _Up and war them a',
Willie_, Johnson's _Museum_, p. 195, and (different) Herd's _Scottish
Songs_, ii. 234: _From Bogie Side, or, The Marquis's Raide_, a false
and scurrilous party song, Hogg's _Jacobite Relics_, ii. 13: _A
Dialogue between Will Lick-Ladle and Tom Clean-Cogue_, &c., written by
the Rev. John Barclay of Edinburgh, many years after the event: and
_The Battle of Sherramoor_, altered and abridged by Burns from this
last, for Johnson's _Museum_, (p. 290.) See Appendix.
There's some say that we wan, and some say that they wan,
And some say that nane wan at a', man;
But one thing I'm sure, that at Sherra-muir
A battle there was that I saw, man.
_And we ran, and they ran, and they ran, and we ran_, 5
_But Florence ran fastest of a', man_.[L6]
Argyle and Belhaven, not frighted like Leven,[L7]
Which Rothes and Haddington saw, man;
For they all, with Wightman, advanc'd on the right, man,
While others took flight, being raw, man. 10
_And we ran, &c._
Lord Roxburgh was there, in order to share[L11]
With Douglas, who stood not in awe, man;
Volunteerly to ramble with Lord Loudon Campbell,
Brave Ilay did suffer for a', man.
_And we ran, &c._
Sir John Schaw, that great knight, with broad sword most
bright,[L15] 15
On horseback he briskly did charge, man;
A hero that's bold, none could him withhold,[L17]
He stoutly encounter'd the targemen.
_And we ran, &c._
For the cowardly Whittam, for fear they should cut him,
Seeing glittering broad swords with a pa', man,
And that in such thrang, made Baird edicang, 21
And from the brave clans ran awa, man.
_And we ran, &c._
[The great Colonel Dow gade foremost, I trow,
When Whittam's dragoons ran awa, man;
Except Sandy Baird, and Naughtan the laird, 25
Their horse shaw'd their heels to them a', man.
_And we ran, &c._]
Brave Mar and Panmure were firm, I am sure:[L27]
The latter was kidnapt awa, man;
With brisk men about, brave Harry retook
His brother, and laugh'd at them a', man. 30
_And we ran, &c._
Brave Marshall, and Lithgow, and Glengary's pith, too,[L31]
Assisted by brave Loggia, man,
And Gordons the bright, so boldly did fight,
That the redcoats took flight and awa, man.
_And we ran, &c._
Strathmore and Clanronald cried still, "Advance, Donald,"[L35] 35
Till both of these heroes did fa', man;
For there was such hashing, and broad swords a-clashing,
Brave Forfar himsel got a claw, man.
_And we ran, &c._
Lord Perth stood the storm, Seaforth but lukewarm,[L39]
Kilsyth, and Strathallan not slaw, man; 40
And Hamilton pled the men were not bred,
For he had no fancy to fa', man.
_And we ran, &c._
Brave gen'rous Southesk, Tullibardin was brisk,[L43]
Whose father indeed would not draw, man,
Into the same yoke, which serv'd for a cloak, 45
To keep the estate 'twixt them twa, man.
_And we ran, &c._
Lord Rollo not fear'd, Kintore and his beard,[L47]
Pitsligo and Ogilvie, a', man,
And brothers Balflours they stood the first show'rs,
Clackmannan and Burleigh did claw, man. 50
_And we ran, &c._
But Cleppan fought pretty, and Strowan the witty,[L51]
A poet that pleases us a', man;
For mine is but rhyme in respect of what's fine,
Or what he is able to draw, man.
_And we ran &c._
For Huntly and Sinclair, they both play'd the tinkler,[L55] 55
With consciences black as a craw, man;
Some Angus and Fife men, they ran for their life, man,
And ne'er a Lot's wife there at a', man.
_And we ran, &c._
Then Laurie the traitor, who betray'd his master,[L59]
His king, and his country, an' a', man, 60
Pretending Mar might give orders to fight,
To the right of the army awa, man.
_And we ran, &c._
Then Laurie, for fear of what he might hear,
Took Drummond's best horse, and awa, man:
'Stead of going to Perth, he crossed the Firth, 65
Alongst Stirling bridge, and awa, man.
_And we ran, &c._
To London he press'd, and there he profess'd
That he behav'd best o' them a', man,
And so, without strife, got settled for life,
A hundred a-year to his fa', man. 70
_And we ran, &c._
In Borrowstounness he resides with disgrace,
Till his neck stand in need of a thraw, man;
And then in a tether he'll swing from a ladder,
And go off the stage with a pa', man.
_And we ran, &c._
Rob Roy there stood watch on a hill, for to catch[L75]
The booty, for ought that I saw, man; 76
For he ne'er advanc'd from the place he was stanc'd,
Till no more was to do there at a', man.
_And we ran, &c._
So we all took the flight, and Moubray the wright,
And Lethem the smith was a braw man, 80
For he took a fit of the gout, which was wit,
By judging it time to withdraw, man.
_And we ran, &c._
And trumpet Maclean, whose breeks were not clean,
Through misfortune he happen'd to fa', man;
By saving his neck, his trumpet did break, 85
And came off without music at a', man.
_And we ran, &c._
So there such a race was as ne'er in that place was,
And as little chace was at a', man;
From each other they run without touk of drum,
They did not make use of a paw, man. 90
_And we ran, &c._
[Whether we ran, or they ran, or we wan, or they wan,
Or if there was winning at a', man,
There no man can tell, save our brave genarell,[L93]
Who first began running of a', man.
_And we ran, &c._
Wi' the Earl o' Seaforth, and the Cock o' the North;[L95] 95
But Florence ran fastest of a', man,
Save the laird o' Phinaven, who sware to be even
W' any general or peer o' them a', man.]
_And we ran, &c._
6. Florence was the Marquis of Huntly's horse. HOGG.
7-10. Lord Belhaven, the Earl of Leven, and the Earls of
Rothes and Haddington, who all bore arms as volunteers in the royal
army. Major-General Joseph Wightman, who commanded the centre of the
royal army.
11-14. John, fifth Duke of Roxburgh, a loyal volunteer.
Archibald, Duke of Douglas, who commanded a body of his vassals in the
royal army. Hugh Campbell, third Earl of Loudoun, of the royal army.
The Earl of Ilay, brother to the Duke of Argyle. He came up to the
field only a few hours before the battle, and had the misfortune to be
wounded.
15. Sir John Shaw of Greenock, an officer in the troop of
volunteers, noted for his keen Whiggish spirit.
17. Major-General Whitham, who commanded the left wing of
the King's army.
39-42. James, Lord Drummond, eldest son of the Earl of
Perth, was Lieutenant-general of horse under Mar, and behaved with
great gallantry. William Mackenzie, fifth Earl of Seaforth. The
Viscount Kilsyth. The Viscount Strathallan. Lieutenant-general George
Hamilton, commanding under the Earl of Mar.
27-30. James, Earl of Panmure. The Honourable Harry Maule
of Kellie, brother to the foregoing, whom he recaptured after the
engagement.
31-4. The Earls of Marischal and Linlithgow. The Chief of
Glengary. Thomas Drummond of Logie Almond.
35-8. The Earl of Strathmore, killed in the battle. The
Chief of Clanranald. The Earl of Forfar--on the King's side--wounded
in the engagement.
43. James, fifth Earl of Southesk. The Marquis of
Tullibardine, eldest son of the Duke of Athole.
47-50. Lord Rollo. The Earl of Kintore. Lord Pitsligo. Lord
Ogilvie, son of the Earl of Airly. Bruce, Laird of Clackmannan--the
husband, I believe, of the old lady who knighted Robert Burns with the
sword of Bruce, at Clackmannan Tower. Lord Burleigh.
51. Major William Clephane. Alexander Robertson of Struan,
chief of the Robertsons.
55. Alexander, Marquis of Huntly, afterwards Duke of
Gordon. The Master of Sinclair.
59-74. These four stanzas seem to refer to a circumstance
reported at the time; namely, that a person had left the Duke of
Argyle's army, and joined the Earl of Mar's, before the battle,
intending to act as a spy; and that, being employed by Mar to inform
the left wing that the right was victorious, he gave a contrary
statement, and, after seeing them retire accordingly, went back again
to the royal army.
75. The celebrated Rob Roy. This redoubted hero was
prevented, by mixed motives, from joining either party. He could not
fight against the Earl of Mar, consistent with his conscience, nor
could he oppose the Duke of Argyle, without forfeiting the protection
of a powerful friend.
93. This point is made at the expense of a contradiction.
See v. 27.
95-7. _The Cock of the North_ is an honorary popular title
of the Duke of Gordon. Carnegy of Finhaven.
LORD DERWENTWATER.
James Radcliff, Earl of Derwentwater, fell into the hands of the Whigs
at the surrender of Preston, on the very day of the battle of
Sheriff-Muir, and suffered death in February, 1716, for his
participation in the rebellion. Smollet has described him as an
amiable youth,--brave, open, generous, hospitable, and humane. "His
fate drew tears from the spectators, and was a great misfortune to the
country in which he lived. He gave bread to multitudes of people whom
he employed on his estate;--the poor, the widow, and the orphan
rejoiced in his bounty." (_History of England_, quoted by Cromek.) We
are told that the _aurora borealis_ was remarkably vivid on the night
of the earl's execution, and that this phenomenon is consequently
still known in the north by the name of "Lord Derwentwater's Lights."
Although this ballad is said to have been extremely popular in the
North of England for a long time after the event which gave rise to
it, no good copy has as yet been recovered. The following was obtained
by Motherwell (_Minstrelsy_, p. 349) from the recitation of an old
woman. Another copy, also from recitation but "restored to poetical
propriety," is given in the _Gentleman's Magazine_, for June, 1825 (p.
489), and fragments of a third in _Notes and Queries_, vol. xii. p.
492. Two spurious ballads on the death of Lord Derwentwater have been
sometimes received as genuine: one by Allan Cunningham, first
published in Cromek's _Nithsdale and Galloway Song_, p. 129, another
(_Lord Derwentwater's Goodnight_) by Surtees, printed in Hogg's
_Jacobite Relics_, ii. 31. Still another modern imitation is _Young
Ratcliffe_, in Sheldon's _Minstrelsy of the English Border_, p. 401.
There is a ballad on the disgraceful capitulation of Preston in Hogg's
_Jacobite Relics_, ii. 102, also, _Northumberland Garland_, p. 85,
beginning "Mackintosh was a soldier brave."
Our King has wrote a long letter,
And sealed it ower with gold;
He sent it to my lord Dunwaters,
To read it if he could.
He has not sent it with a boy, 5
Nor with any Scots lord;
But he's sent it with the noblest knight
E'er Scotland could afford.
The very first line that my lord did read,
He gave a smirkling smile; 10
Before he had the half of it read,
The tears from his eyes did fall.
"Come saddle to me my horse," he said,
"Come saddle to me with speed;
For I must away to fair London town, 15
For to me there was ne'er more need."
Out and spoke his lady gay,
In childbed where she lay:
"I would have you make your will, my lord Dunwaters,
Before you go away." 20
"I leave to you, my eldest son,
My houses and my land;
I leave to you, my youngest son,
Ten thousand pounds in hand.
"I leave to you, my lady gay, -- 25
You are my wedded wife, --
I leave to you, the third of my estate,
That'll keep you in a lady's life."
They had not rode a mile but one,
Till his horse fell owre a stane: 30
"It's a warning good enough," my lord Dunwaters said,
"Alive I'll ne'er come hame."
When they came to fair London town,
Into the courtiers' hall,
The lords and knights of fair London town 35
Did him a traitor call.
"A traitor! a traitor!" says my lord,
"A traitor! how can that be?
An it be nae for the keeping five thousand men,
To fight for King Jamie. 40
"O all you lords and knights in fair London town,
Come out and see me die;
O all you lords and knights in fair London town,
Be kind to my ladie.
"There's fifty pounds in my right pocket, 45
Divide it to the poor;
There's other fifty in my left pocket,
Divide it from door to door."
THE BATTLE OF TRANENT-MUIR, OR OF PRESTON-PANS
Herd's _Scottish Songs_, i. 166: Ritson's _Scotish Songs_, ii. 76.
This ballad is the work of Adam Skirving, a clever and opulent farmer,
father of Archibald Skirving, the portrait painter. It was printed
shortly after the battle as a broadside, and next appeared in _The
Charmer_, vol. ii. p. 349, Edinb. 1751. Neither of those editions
contains the eleventh stanza. The foot-notes commonly attached to the
subsequent reprints are found in _The Charmer_. (Laing in Johnson's
_Museum_, iv. 189*.)
To Skirving is also attributed with great probability the excellent
satirical song of _Johnnie Cope_, or _Cope are you waking yet_. The
original words are in Ritson, _Scotish Songs_, ii. 84: another set at
p. 82: a third, with alterations and additions by Burns, in Johnson's
_Museum_, p. 242. Allan Cunningham once heard a peasant boast that he
could sing _Johnnie Cope_ with all its _nineteen_ variations. See
Appendix.
The battle took place on the 22d of September, 1745, between the
villages of Tranent and Prestonpans, a few miles from Edinburgh. The
king's lieutenant-general, Sir John Cope, was disgracefully defeated
by the Highlanders under Charles Edward, and nearly all his army
killed or taken. The details of the conflict are vividly described in
the 46th and 47th chapters of Waverley.
The Chevalier, being void of fear,
Did march up Birsle brae, man,
And thro' Tranent, e'er he did stent,
As fast as he could gae, man:
While General Cope did taunt and mock, 5
Wi' mony a loud huzza, man;
But e'er next morn proclaim'd the cock,
We heard another craw, man.
The brave Lochiel, as I heard tell,
Led Camerons on in clouds, man; 10
The morning fair, and clear the air,
They loos'd with devilish thuds, man.
Down guns they threw, and swords they drew
And soon did chace them aff, man;
On Seaton-Crafts they buft their chafts, 15
And gart them rin like daft, man.
The bluff dragoons swore blood and 'oons,
They'd make the rebels run, man;
And yet they flee when them they see,
And winna fire a gun, man: 20
They turn'd their back, the foot they brake,
Such terror seiz'd them a', man;
Some wet their cheeks, some fyl'd their breeks,
And some for fear did fa', man.
The volunteers prick'd up their ears, 25
And vow gin they were crouse, man;
But when the bairns saw't turn to earn'st,
They were not worth a louse man.
Maist feck gade hame; O fy for shame!
They'd better stay'd awa', man, 30
Than wi' cockade to make parade,
And do nae good at a', man.
Menteith the great, when hersell sh--,[L33]
Un'wares did ding him o'er man;
Yet wad nae stand to bear a hand, 35
But aff fou fast did scour, man;
O'er Soutra hill, e'er he stood still,
Before he tasted meat, man:
Troth he may brag of his swift nag,
That bare him aff sae fleet, man. 40
And Simpson keen, to clear the een[L41]
Of rebels far in wrang, man,
Did never strive wi' pistols five,
But gallop'd with the thrang, man:
He turn'd his back, and in a crack 45
Was cleanly out of sight man;
And thought it best; it was nae jest
W' Highlanders to fight, man.
'Mangst a' the gang nane bade the bang
But twa, and ane was tane, man; 50
For Campbell rade, but Myrie staid,[L51]
And sair he paid the kain, man;
Fell skelps he got, was war than shot,
Frae the sharp-edg'd claymore, man;
Frae many a spout came running out 55
His reeking-het red gore, man.
But Gard'ner brave did still behave
Like to a hero bright, man;
His courage true, like him were few
That still despised flight, man; 60
For king and laws, and country's cause,
In honour's bed he lay, man;
His life, but not his courage, fled,
While he had breath to draw, man.
And Major Bowle, that worthy soul, 65
Was brought down to the ground, man;
His horse being shot, it was his lot
For to get mony a wound, man:
Lieutenant Smith, of Irish birth,[L69]
Frae whom he call'd for aid, man, 70
Being full of dread, lap o'er his head,
And wadna be gainsaid, man.
He made sic haste, sae spur'd his beast,
'Twas little there he saw, man;
To Berwick rade, and safely said, 75
The Scots were rebels a', man.
But let that end, for well 'tis kend
His use and wont to lie, man;
The Teague is naught, he never faught,
When he had room to flee, man. 80
And Caddell drest, amang the rest,
With gun and good claymore, man,
On gelding grey he rode that way,
With pistols set before, man;
The cause was good, he'd spend his blood, 85
Before that he would yield, man;
But the night before, he left the cor,
And never fac'd the field, man.
But gallant Roger, like a soger,
Stood and bravely fought, man; 90
I'm wae to tell, at last he fell,
But mae down wi' him brought, man:
At point of death, wi' his last breath,
(Some standing round in ring, man,)
On's back lying flat, he wav'd his hat, 95
And cry'd, God save the King, man.
Some Highland rogues, like hungry dogs,
Neglecting to pursue, man,
About they fac'd, and in great haste
Upon the booty flew, man; 100
And they, as gain for all their pain,
Are deck'd wi' spoils of war, man;
Fu' bald can tell how hernainsell
Was ne'er sae pra before, man.